Roland Nyama poured in 16 first-half points to help Stony Brook build a 17-point halftime advantage Saturday en route to an 80-52 America East men’s basketball victory over the University of Maine at Island FCU Arena in Stony Brook, New York.
Nyama shot 9-for-12 from the field and finished with a game-high 24 points for the Seawolves (17-10, 8-4 AE), who shot 43 percent in the game and outrebounded the Black Bears 52-28.
Coach Bob Walsh’s UMaine ballclub (3-22, 2-10 AE) gave up 30 points in the paint and 13 second-chance points while suffering its fourth straight loss.
Jameel Warney (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Rayshaun McGrew (10 points, 15 rebounds) each registered a double-double for the Seawolves, while Carson Puriefoy posted 12 points and six assists. Deshaun Thrower dished out seven assists for Stony Brook, which made 11 3-pointers.
Junior forward Till Gloger paced UMaine with 15 points and junior guard Shaun Lawton provided 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Troy Reid-Knight netted eight points, while Zarko Valjarevic and Kevin Little (4 assists) chipped in with seven points each.
The Black Bears were without sophomore forward Garet Beals of Beals Island and classmate Christian Ejiga because of injuries.
Stony Brook wasted no time building an early lead, scoring the first 12 points of the contest. McGrew made a layup and a jump shot, then Nyama followed with a jumper and a 3-pointer. Puriefoy’s 3 at the 16:23 mark made it 12-zip.
The Bears later cut the deficit to as few as three points, but the Seawolves used a 17-3 run to take control heading into halftime.
UMaine is back in action Wednesday night at UMass Lowell.